This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Winners in Digital Communities initiative
28/03/2002
Thousands of people living in Mull and 12 other north
Argyll islands, and Bellsmyre in West Dunbartonshire, will
be able to have direct access to the worldwide web from
their own homes free of charge.
These two areas had been chosen as the winners of its
Digital Communities initiative.
The initiative aims to tackle digital exclusion by
creating pilot digital communities in two disadvantaged
areas of Scotland - one urban and one rural.
Around 4,000 homes in these areas will get free PCs with
free internet access for one year and a community-based web
portal with locally developed content. There will also be
an awareness-raising campaign aimed at making people aware
of the benefits of being online such as access to
education, jobs, shopping, entertainment and financial
services.
Minister for Social Justice Iain Gray said:
"The Executive wants to create a digitally inclusive
Scotland that will ensure more equal, effective and
beneficial access for all people to the digital
technologies and Web facilities that benefit them in their
day-to-day lives.
"The digital community to be set up on the North Argyll
islands provides a uniquely Scottish environment in which
to test the impact and effectiveness of the digital
community approach to tackling rural disadvantage. The
Bellsmyre initiative provides an opportunity to look at the
contribution digital technologies can make to increasing
opportunity and prosperity in an area of urban deprivation.
This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals and the
communities in these two areas.
"The Executive has as its central aim closing the
opportunity gap and this initiative will mean that people
living in two of Scotland's disadvantaged communities will
be able to bridge the digital divide and play a full part
in the digital revolution."
Minister for Environment and Rural Development Ross
Finnie said:
"The Executive is committed to improving access to
services, and tackling poverty and social exclusion in
rural Scotland. The North Argyll Islands Digital
Communities project is a challenging and innovative
project, that will not only use technology to address these
issues, but will do so in one of the most remote
communities in rural Scotland.
"Most importantly, the project will make a huge
difference to those living in the area. It was an extremely
competitive bidding process and this is a very significant
achievement for the North Argyll Islands. It is an exciting
project and I will follow its progress with interest."
Argyll and Bute Council's spokesperson for 21
st Century Government and Islands, Councillor
Ian Gillies said:
"I am absolutely delighted that we have been given the
opportunity to bring the most exciting and innovative
technology to these 13 islands.
"Our island communities will be able to communicate with
each other and the rest of the world by email, voice chat
or web camera, as well as having the means to access public
services, learning materials, information, or simply
internet shopping on-line.
"The ability to maintain contact with family and
friends, living or working away from home, will be a huge
boost to family stability and help overcome the challenges
of distance and isolation.
"The programme will also be linking island web-sites, as
well as looking to encourage people to take up the
challenge of working from home, or perhaps setting up an
`e.business' which will undoubtedly boost and bring new
life to our fragile island economies."
Danny McCafferty, Leader of West Dunbartonshire Council,
said:
"Digital Inclusion is about ensuring that people can
access new technologies, and that they have the skills and
confidence to use this technology in all aspects of their
lives. This is great news for the people of Bellsmyre."
The Digital Communities initiative was announced at the
launch of the Digital Inclusion Strategy "Connecting
Scotland's People" on September 26, 2001. The innovative
initiative will create pilot "digital communities" in two
disadvantaged areas of Scotland - one urban and one rural.
The winning bids have now been selected following a
competition in which there was strong interest - 29 local
authorities submitted proposals.
Up to 2000 homes in each of these communities will be
provided with home-based access to the web, training, a
community-based web portal with locally developed content,
and campaigns to raise awareness of the benefits of getting
online.
Installation of computers in homes will start within
weeks and is expected to be completed within 6 months.